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Date: 31 Dec 2006 20:18:31
From: bardogg
Subject: Old MDF worth saving?
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After obsessing and researching machines for the past week, I finally
decided to go with a used Expobar Office I found on ebay for around
$680. I was planning on the Sylvia but, other than me, no one else in
the house drinks espresso without steamed milk, so the H/X seemed to
make the most sense.
I'm now sorting out the grinder -- keeping firmly in mind the mantra
that the grinder is *more* important than the machine. A few years ago
I inherited a literally unused Gaggia MDF still in plastic, in the box
with a receipt date from 1983. I used it for about 1 year and then
stored it (like an idiot) in an outdoor storage unit while I was living
overseas. When I got back the grinder was stuck on the setting I had
stored it in, but otherwise appeared to work fine (which at the time
was fine b/c I was using it only for vac pot). A few months after
that, it just stopped working altogether.
So is it worth trying to get the old MDF up and working to try it with
the Expobar Office or should I just bite the bullet and invest in a
Rocky (or do I need to go even more expensive? or can I make do with
my Zass portable hand mill?) And, if getting the MDF going is worth
it, any advice where I should send it (I'm in Cleveland,OH) and any
guesses on what the cost will be if the motor's shot? Thanks again for
the help.
Brian "the quest is (nearly) over" Ray
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Date: 01 Jan 2007 16:58:11
From: Felix
Subject: Re: Old MDF worth saving?
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Randy G. writes:
> Since it was working when put away it is worth fixing.
> The problem is probably simple. [...]
> this is a simple machine and easily repaired.
That's a good theory, the one I used to justify buying several older
MDF's. There were transactions, unexpected failures ... I don't know
how many I have. I can say that the last one I restored works quite
well without the detent springs, and that its owner wants another one
for his office. It's been about two years since I agreed to send him
that one.
In practice, dismantling these things may require a lot of patience.
Admittedly, I'm not as adept at fixing things as I'd like to be, partly
because I'm unwilling to try techniques that would damage the finish.
So I have a history of living with Gaggia parts stored haphazardly in
my kitchen and/or dining room.
It's worth *trying* to fix, and I'd have offered to buy it if I was
optimistic about my chances, but I'm not ... One thing I haven't tried:
soaking one in penetrating oil for a year. I'm sure that would work :-)
Felix
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Date: 01 Jan 2007 16:27:33
From: bardogg
Subject: Re: Old MDF worth saving?
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Thanks, Randy. As you can tell, my own skills are extremely ltd. It
doesn't do anything. After getting it back out, I took apart all of
the pieces with screws and a whole bunch of grinds fell out of the
bottom, so somehow they must have been backing up into the machine
itself. Also, the wire to one of the connectors on the bottom has a
rotted wire cover.
Separately, any thoughts on whether the GDF is up to the task for use
with the expobar office?
Randy G. wrote:
> "bardogg" <onerobeonebowl@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> >So is it worth trying to get the old MDF up and working to try it with
> >the Expobar Office or should I just bite the bullet and invest in a
> >Rocky (or do I need to go even more expensive? or can I make do with
> >my Zass portable hand mill?)
> >
>
> Since it was working when put away it is worth fixing. The problem is
> probably simple. When you say it isn't working, does it do anything?
> That is, when turned on, does it "humm" or make any sounds? Do the
> lights in the room dim a bit? If so, then it probably needs to be
> opened and cleaned in the areas of the burrs, or possibly the motor
> need cleaning. If it is doing nothing (no sounds or humming) then the
> power switch may be bad or the start capacitor is dead. These are all
> things that a local handy man can fix fairly easily. If there is a guy
> in the neighborhood who works on his/her own cars or a local tinkered,
> offer then some fresh-roast to work on it for you and save the hassle
> of shipping it off. or just look up the local appliance repair shop-
> this is a simple machine and easily repaired.
>
> Randy "do YOU trust UPS...?" G.
> http://www.EspressoMyEspresso.com
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Date: 01 Jan 2007 12:39:17
From: Randy G.
Subject: Re: Old MDF worth saving?
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"bardogg" <onerobeonebowl@gmail.com > wrote:
>So is it worth trying to get the old MDF up and working to try it with
>the Expobar Office or should I just bite the bullet and invest in a
>Rocky (or do I need to go even more expensive? or can I make do with
>my Zass portable hand mill?)
>
Since it was working when put away it is worth fixing. The problem is
probably simple. When you say it isn't working, does it do anything?
That is, when turned on, does it "humm" or make any sounds? Do the
lights in the room dim a bit? If so, then it probably needs to be
opened and cleaned in the areas of the burrs, or possibly the motor
need cleaning. If it is doing nothing (no sounds or humming) then the
power switch may be bad or the start capacitor is dead. These are all
things that a local handy man can fix fairly easily. If there is a guy
in the neighborhood who works on his/her own cars or a local tinkered,
offer then some fresh-roast to work on it for you and save the hassle
of shipping it off. or just look up the local appliance repair shop-
this is a simple machine and easily repaired.
Randy "do YOU trust UPS...?" G.
http://www.EspressoMyEspresso.com
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Date: 01 Jan 2007 06:40:32
From: bardogg
Subject: Re: Old MDF worth saving?
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Thanks Dave! Should I ship it to the address on your website?
Happy New Years to you as well.
Brian "dreaming of a new year filled with great espresso" Ray
daveb wrote:
> bd:
>
> Send it to me. If it can be fixed I'll let you know. and the charge?
>
> Free.
>
> HNY!
>
> Dave
> Saeco / Gaggia service SE
> www.hitechespresso.com
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Date: 01 Jan 2007 04:38:21
From: daveb
Subject: Re: Old MDF worth saving?
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bd:
Send it to me. If it can be fixed I'll let you know. and the charge?
Free.
HNY!
Dave
Saeco / Gaggia service SE
www.hitechespresso.com
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